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The sad, twisted truth about conservative Christianity’s effect on the mind (Salon)
Salon ^ | Marlene Winell and Valerie Tarico

Posted on 11/01/2014 3:37:19 PM PDT by Faith Presses On

If a former believer says that Christianity made her depressed, obsessive, or post-traumatic, she is likely to be dismissed as an exaggerator. She might describe panic attacks about the rapture; moods that swung from ecstasy about God’s overwhelming love to suicidal self-loathing about repeated sins; or an obsession with sexual purity.

A symptom like one of these clearly has a religious component, yet many people instinctively blame the victim. They will say that the wounded former believer was prone to anxiety or depression or obsession in the first place—that his Christianity somehow got corrupted by his predisposition to psychological problems. Or they will say that he wasn’t a real Christian. If only he had prayed in faith believing or loved God with all his heart, soul and mind, if only he had really been saved—then he would have experienced the peace that passes all understanding.

(Excerpt) Read more at salon.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; General Discusssion; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS: antichristian; christianity; christianpersecution; mentalhealth; salon
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To: metmom

I’ll die before I take any mind altering drugs.


61 posted on 11/01/2014 6:54:31 PM PDT by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“The sad, twisted truth about the effect of welfare stateon the mind “

1 Timothy 5:8

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

62 posted on 11/01/2014 6:54:50 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: daniel1212
That first word should be veterinarian...
63 posted on 11/01/2014 6:57:08 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: CynicalBear

Zyrtec is just an antihistamine.

My daughter reacts to Singulair in a similar way.

And I agree with you on that.

Nothing that messes with the brain for me either.

Just that reaction to the Zyrtec was bad enough.


64 posted on 11/01/2014 7:14:48 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: skeeter
This is the groundwork for eventual criminalization of worship.

Fortunately, though, it was only on Salon.

65 posted on 11/01/2014 7:41:10 PM PDT by RansomOttawa (tm)
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To: Billthedrill
...”Psychobabble”....

Well that just about is the size of it....so if people will be mesmerized by this guy they’ll fall for anything resembling a "feel good" sort of thing.

66 posted on 11/01/2014 8:11:29 PM PDT by caww
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To: LearsFool
I don’t know what religion the author is talking about, but it’s not Christianity. When did Jesus ever say that following Him would make all our problems disappear?
What He promised His disciples was hardship in this wicked world, and glory and bliss in the next.

========================================

Which of the 12 apostles were martyred?
All except one. According to tradition, all of the twelve apostles died as martyrs during the first century A.D. Only St. John, the writer of the Gospel with his name and the Book of Revelation died a natural death. It is believed he died near the year 100 A.D.
The possible causes of death of each of the Twelve Apostles:

Andrew: Martyrdom by crucifixion (bound, not nailed, to a cross)

Bartholomew (Often identified with Nathaniel in the New Testament): Martyrdom by being either 1. Beheaded, or 2. Flayed alive and crucified, head downward.

James the Greater: Martyrdom by being beheaded or stabbed with a sword.

James the Lesser: Martyrdom by being thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple at Jerusalem, then stoned and beaten with clubs.

John: Died of old age.

Jude (Often identified with Thaddeus in the New Testament): Martyrdom by being beaten to death with a club.

Judas: Suicide.

Matthew: Martyrdom by being burned, stoned, or beheaded.

Peter: Martyrdom by crucifixion at Rome with his head downwards.

Philip: Martyrdom.

Simon: Martyrdom by crucifixion or being sawn in half.

Thomas: Martyrdom by being stabbed with a spear.

========================================

Sources for the above information: The Catholic Encyclopedia

This isn't dogma so we aren't BOUND to accept these accounts but they are interesting.

67 posted on 11/01/2014 8:26:47 PM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: Faith Presses On

Jack Kevorkian was an atheist.


68 posted on 11/01/2014 8:58:24 PM PDT by Ethan Clive Osgoode (<<== Click here to learn about Evolution!)
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To: SoFloFreeper
Yeah, atheism has done so much good in the world. All those hospitals and charities to help the needy

Well, Jack Kevorkian was an atheist and he certainly "helped" a lot of people. The soundness and inner joy of his atheist mind is evident from his paintings...


69 posted on 11/01/2014 9:08:26 PM PDT by Ethan Clive Osgoode (<<== Click here to learn about Evolution!)
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To: YHAOS

Indeed. Thanks for the ping!


70 posted on 11/01/2014 9:19:41 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: YHAOS
Research reveals religious beliefs can alter brain function, making us more prone to anxiety and depression.

One wonders about the state of mind of the nutcase who would use "science" to justify such an absurd statement.

71 posted on 11/01/2014 9:21:12 PM PDT by betty boop (Say good-bye to mathematical logic if you wish to preserve your relations with concrete realities!)
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To: metmom; daniel1212
Thanks for the ping. It seems the atheists have their own "apologetics" site. Mostly run by a former Muslim.

Atheist Republic

They still can't answer the "something from nothing" issue. Seems they have turned to the "it's a mystery" or "the universe has always been here" routine. But that would require great faith.

72 posted on 11/01/2014 11:20:08 PM PDT by redleghunter (But let your word 'yes be 'yes,' and your 'no be 'no.' Anything more than this is from the evil one.)
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To: Wiser now
The woman described in this hit piece likely doesn’t exist in real life. She has been created for the author’s purposes, which is to trash Christianity and lay the ground work for having it declared a mental illness. Of course parents are going to be forbidden to teach their children Biblical truth. Nothing must get in the way of the march to Marxism. The irony is Marx himself was a psychopath.

I ventured a quick peek at the article and what I read dovetails precisely with your post.
73 posted on 11/02/2014 5:37:14 AM PST by Resettozero
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To: Faith Presses On
In the sense that religion means working to try to get to heaven religion will drive you nuts. Grace however should bring us peace. As usual Christianity is portrayed as a religion where one must meet a check list of holiness or be rejected. What the media ignores is the truth is just the opposite Christianity is the way for sinners to receive God's grace and be reconciled to God.

II Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Philippians 4:6-8 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

74 posted on 11/02/2014 7:09:17 AM PST by Idaho_Cowboy (Ride for the Brand. Joshua 24:15)
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To: jjotto

Precisely my thoughts....moving air is bad for the planet...carbon dioxide being exhaled by moonbats is BAAAAAAD stuff...the only way out is to stop breathing.


75 posted on 11/02/2014 8:12:27 AM PST by tpanther ((Science was, is and will forever be a small subset of God's creation.))
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To: WriteOn
Thought police come in the name of health. And ZeroCare will be their instrument.
76 posted on 11/02/2014 8:15:41 AM PST by tpanther ((Science was, is and will forever be a small subset of God's creation.))
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To: redleghunter
They still can't answer the "something from nothing" issue. Seems they have turned to the "it's a mystery" or "the universe has always been here" routine. But that would require great faith.

Yet many will not allow a Creator-God even as a hypothesis, but will allow for space-seeding aliens.

77 posted on 11/02/2014 9:05:45 AM PST by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: daniel1212

And where did the space seeding aliens come from? LOL no matter just add chance+a whole lot of time to deflect:)


78 posted on 11/02/2014 8:10:18 PM PST by redleghunter (But let your word 'yes be 'yes,' and your 'no be 'no.' Anything more than this is from the evil one.)
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To: redleghunter
And where did the space seeding aliens come from? LOL no matter just add chance+a whole lot of time to deflect:)

Other space seeding aliens. Which began by attributing Divine attributes to matter. Leading to worship of oneself and superior intellect.

79 posted on 11/02/2014 9:13:16 PM PST by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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